Authors

Abstract

Mechanised furrowing and fertiliser application is an effective engineering solution for improving operational efficiency and re-ducing labour intensity in hilly and mountainous orchards. In this study, a systematic optimisation methodology for a disc-type furrowing tool is proposed by integrating discrete element method (DEM) simulations using EDEM with quadratic orthogonal re-gression experiments and response surface analysis. Key structural parameters, including bending radius, bending angle, and alpha angle, were selected as design variables, and their individual and interactive effects on furrowing power consumption were inves-tigated. The results of the response surface analysis indicate that appropriate structural optimisation can significantly reduce trenching power consumption. The optimal structural parameters were determined as follows: bending radius of 36.79 mm, bending angle of 126.94°, and alpha angle of 43.65°. Under these conditions, the predicted power consumption was 0.85 kW, representing a reduction of 8.88% compared with the original tool design. Soil bin experiments were conducted to validate the DEM simulation results, and the experimental trends showed good agreement with the simulation predictions, demonstrating the reliability of the proposed optimisation approach. This study provides a practical reference for the engineering design and performance improvement of soil-engaging tools.

Abstract in Chinese

果园机械化开沟施肥技术是提高丘陵山区果园作业效率、降低劳动强度的关键手段之一。本文基于EDEM仿真技术，结合二次正交回归试验与响应曲面分析，优化了圆盘式开沟刀具的结构参数。研究重点分析了弯折半径、弯折角度和阿尔法角等关键参数，并通过响应曲面分析揭示了这些参数之间对开沟功耗的交互影响。优化结果表明，合理调整刀具结构能够显著降低开沟功耗，优化后的刀具参数为：弯折半径X1 = 36.79 mm、弯折角度X2 = 126.94°、阿尔法角X3 = 43.65°，优化后的功耗为0.85 kW，相较未优化刀具，功耗降低了约8.88%。土槽实验验证了仿真结果的准确性，为进一步优化开沟刀具提供了理论依据。